Wings of Freedom

Book excerpt: In the turbulent backdrop of India’s struggle for freedom in British India, destiny brings together Raju, a young Indian aspiring to be a revolutionary and Eileen, the teenage daughter of a British officer. Will their relationship survive the societal pressures, cultural divide, and the political turmoil? It is the year 1911. King George the Fifth is due in Delhi for his coronation celebration. A devastating fire in the royal camp gives rise to speculations of sabotage and an assassination attempt by the Indian revolutionaries. In the aftermath of this sensational event, Raju, a college student, struggling to establish his identity in the charged atmosphere of India’s freedom struggle, is caught up in the vortex of violent passions, as two of his innocent friends are made scapegoats for the blaze, by the police and murdered. Raju’s relentless journey against colonial rule and the economic exploitation of India begins. An effervescent romance with Eileen keeps Raju inspired in their roller-coaster ride through the backdrop of British imperialism, turbulent political conflicts, and the fury of the freedom revolution. “Wings of Freedom” is a novel about British India, with a difference, as an Indian author, Ratan Kaul, brings out this tumultuous era from an Indian point of view.